ELIZABETH "BETTY" RUGGIERO

Wednesday

Jun 4, 2014 at 10:32 PM

May 30, 1917 - May 31, 2014

Newburgh, NY

Elizabeth "Betty" Ruggiero, died peacefully May 31, 2014, at St. Luke's Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. The daughter of Agnes and William Gillespie, she was born in Newburgh on Washington Street on May 30, 1917.

Her first job as a teen-ager was as a soda-jerk at the Commodore Chocolatier that resulted in a life long friendship with the Courtsunis Family. Betty graduated from NFA in January, 1936.

Betty married James Ruggiero in 1937. They bought property, built a house and moved to Orange Lake in 1945. Betty served as the sole trustee for the Orange Lake School District for several years. She is a life-long member of the Orange Lake Fire Company's Ladies Auxiliary. Mom was a parishioner of St. Mary's Church, Newburgh, a member of St. Mary's Seniors and the Catholic Daughters of America.

Mom loved to dance, had a warm out-going personality and would strike up a conversation with any stranger, including Carol Burnett, engendering many an embarrassed eye-roll from her teen-age children, a practice they all emulated! Mom was blessed with her father's sense of humor and her amusing quirky antics were a boon to every gathering.

Betty was also an avid league-bowler for 34 years, frequently raising Cain on the alleys, celebrating wins and losses afterward. She also enjoyed volunteering, first for Meals on Wheels and later at the Dominican Sisters of Hope Infirmary Dining Room forging more strong bonds with the Sisters whom she loved like her own family.

Betty was predeceased by her husband, James; her parents, and only sibling, Gordon Gillespie.

Betty is survived by her children: Janice, Joseph and Jeannine; grandchildren: James and Susan, Paul and Allison, Andrew and Sara, Matthew, Joseph and Francis; three great-grandchildren: Jessica, Paul and Jack; one remaining cousin, Dorothy Revelle; one sister-in-law, Theresa Lynn; a host of nieces and nephews, two special nieces, Natalene Quick and Mary Pomerance; and family friend Anita Seibert.

The family wishes to thank the Elant at Meadow Hill Staff of 1E whose warmth and loving care eased her transition to residential care.

Go with God, Mom. We love you.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 6 at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave., Newburgh. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 7th at St. Mary's Church in Newburgh.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary's Outreach c/o St. Mary's Church, 180 South St., Newburgh.

Arrangements under the care of Brooks Funeral Home; to send a personal condolence, please visit www.Brooksfh.com or call 845-561-8300.